Arturo Vidal shows that complaining has its benefits

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Arturo Vidal complained about his role at Barcelona after their 2-1 win away at Slavia Prague on October 23, yet since then he has started in three straight matches.

On that night in the Czech Republic, the Chilean replaced Sergio Busquets in the 78th minute but he has had plenty of reason to be cheerful since, results aside.

“I’m not content, I’m not happy,” Vidal said after win against Slavia.

The first match after making his frustration public came at the Camp Nou as Barcelona hosted Real Valladolid.

Vidal got his name on the scoresheet in a 5-1 win for the Catalans, which was followed by Ernesto Valverde praising the midfielder, who started the 32-year-old at the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia against Levante.

However, the script wasn’t the same as the Valladolid game as Barcelona slumped to a 3-1 defeat, with Vidal playing 74 minutes before being replaced by Busquets.

Valverde then named Vidal in his starting line-up for the clash with Slavia Prague, showing that there is nothing quite as effective as raising your voice.

Beforehand, the only time that Vidal had been included in the XI had been against Sevilla, where he scored in a convincing win for the Blaugrana.

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The Chile international’s importance is understood at Barcelona, with there seeming to have been a decision to give Vidal more prominence in the side.

Before his protest, Vidal had been on the pitch for 209 minutes over the course of 12 games, in which he didn’t even feature against Borussia Dortmund, Getafe, Villarreal or Athletic Club.

In the last week, however, he has played 244 minutes as Barcelona have faced Valladolid, Levante and Slavia.

In the past, the experienced midfielder has opted to use social media as a means of voicing his discontent.

“Don’t fight with Judases, they will hang themselves on their own,” Vidal published on Instagram after Barcelona’s draw at Mestalla last season, where he did not play.

At the time, that post did not go down well and he was forced to sit out the match against Sevilla.

What is clear, though, is that Vidal has worked hard to get this opportunity – he simply used his message in the media to give Valverde a tap on the shoulder.

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